Biological Chemistry - Berezov T. T., Korovkin B. F. 1998

Liver
Chemical Composition of the Liver

In a healthy adult, the Liver weighs on average 1.5 kg. Some researchers suggest that this value should be considered the lower limit of normal, with the normal range spanning from 20 to 60 g per 1 kg of body weight.

Table 16.1 presents standard data on The chemical composition of a normal liver.

As seen from Table 16.1, Water accounts for more than 70% of the liver's mass. However, it should be kept in mind that both liver weight and its composition are subject to significant variations in normal states and, especially, in pathological conditions. For instance, in edema, water content can rise to 80% of the liver mass, whereas in excessive hepatic fat accumulation, it may drop to 55%. Proteins make up more than half of the dry residue, with globulins accounting for approximately 90 of them. The liver is rich in various Enzymes. Lipids constitute about 5% of the liver mass, including neutral fats (triglycerides), Phospholipids, Cholesterol, and others. In marked obesity, lipid content can reach 20% of the organ's mass, while in Fatty liver degeneration, lipids may comprise up to 50% of the wet weight.

Class="center">Table 16.1. Chemical composition of the mammalian liver

The liver can contain 150–200 g of glycogen. Typically, severe parenchymal liver damage leads to a decrease in its glycogen content. Conversely, in certain Glycogen Storage Diseases, glycogen levels can reach 20% or more of the liver mass.

The mineral COMPOSITION OF THE liver is also diverse. The concentrations of iron, copper, manganese, nickel, and certain other elements exceed their levels in other Organs and Tissues.